Lesson 2: Impulse & Momentum

• A heavier object is harder to stop, thus it has a greater inertia in motion.
• A lighter object is easier to stop, it thus has a lesser inertia in motion.
• A faster object is harder to stop, thus it has a greater momentum.
• A slower object is easier to stop, it thus has a lesser momentum.
• Momentum is a moving object’s tendency to resist any change in it’s state of motion; inertia in motion.
• In physics, an external force acting on an object over a specific time leads to a change in momentum of the object. The change in momentum is called Impulse.
• Air bags in cars are designed with impulse, or momentum change principles. When a driver gets into an accident their momentum carries them forward into the steering wheel. By putting an airbag in the car, a smaller force is exerted over a longer period of time to change the momentum of the driver to a stop.
• Momentum refers to the product of mass and velocity of an object.
• The change in momentum of an object due to a force applied is called Impulse.